ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 799, 21 October 1929, Page 11

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

COMPLETING ROUTE ROUND LAKE WAIKAREMOANA CAMPING GROUNDS CHOSEN A marked improvement in tlie condition of the various roads is reported by Mr. A. Grayson, president of tbe Auckland Automobile Association, and Mr. K. E. Ohampfaloup, touring manager to the association, who returned yesterday from a 1,200-mile tour of the Taupo, Lake Waikaremoana, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty districts. The route taken for the tour was from Auckland to Taupo, Napier, Wairoa. Lake Waikaremoana, Gisborne, East Cape; back to Gisborne to Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, and then back to Auckland via Waihi and Paeroa. Throughout the roads showed much improvement on last season, particularly from the point of view of curvature and alignment, while many narrow and winding roads had been converted into wide and adequate highways. Owing to recent works, however, some of the roads were a little rough, but in most of these cases top-dress-ing had been started, and when this was finished they should prove good permanent highways. It is considered that had preparations been made earlier, the routes would have been in good order for tbe earlier summer months, but it is held that the Highways Board may have been inclined to hesitate owing to the recent discussion concerning the Government grant.

Tolagh Bay surfaces were disappointing, and it was felt that the application of little maintenance should have been provided, although it is realised that the most satisfactory provision from an economical point of view would be tar-sealing. Further north of’the XSast Cape, near Tokomaru Bay and Waipiro, the condition of the roads was disappointing. The old r / tal portion of the road between Gisborne and Opotiki was in shocking order, and had been absolutely neglected. The old clay gap between Matawai and Otaka is now metalled, but is a little rough, although the work of top-dressing is to start shortly. Now that this road is available in the winter the question of three bridges provides a matter which should be dealt with immediately. Previously, only minor trouble was experienced with the flooding of the streams during the touring season, although in bad weather the clay portion of the road prevented all traffic from going through. It is now an all-the-year-rouud route, excepting for the crossings over the streams. In the Bay of Plenty the conditions were very fair with the exception of the Tauranga-Te Puke surface, which is deplorable, while the same could well be applied to the old metal section between Kati Kati and Tauranga. No attempt bad be y made to grade or Improve the clay section. ROUND THE LAKE Last summer cars were able to proceed from Rotorua to Hawke’s Bay via the Urewera Country (Te Whalti and Wai-iti). There is now road access to Lake Waikaremoana, although there are yet two small gaps of a little over a mile each which have yet to be built up before cars can proceed to the lake, a distance of 775 miles from Rotorua. The lake will be reached at the Hopuruahine landing, and it is expected that this road will be opened before Christmas. It will be essentially ( a summer route. The road round the lake to junction with the road from Wairoa is being proceeded with, but owing to the difficult country it is not contemplated that it will be finished until early in the New Year. The latter section to the Lake House necessitates the building of three bridges, and these will be erected before Easter.

Mr. Grayson and Mr. Champtaloup found it necessary to take a launch across tbe lake to inspect various portions of the road. They also chose four sights for camping-grounds. They conferred with the Commissioner ot Crown Lands in that district to have these “spots” set aside for campers. The road round the lake extends for about IS miles, and then branches oft for a drive of about 65 miles through dense native bush. Although the road in many respects will be a good one, it is not held advisable for inexperienced motorist*.